4/29/2007

From chilly to sun drenched within the span of week, spring has officially arrived in Southern California. Given the temperatures today, the weather is considering skipping straight on through to summer. One of the fiction writers in Cat's grad program claims that, "...weather in Southern California is subtle, and requires a discerning palate". She's probably right. We pretty much have two modes down here; hot and not hot.

Being seasoned Orange County residents at this point, when it gets warm, we hit the beach. Fortunately for us, Irvine is less than fifteen minutes away from a number of gorgeous stretches of sand, all owned by the state and all free. Crystal Cove State Park in neighboring Newport Beach is convenient, close, and beautiful, as well as relatively crowd-free. Not a bad place to go for a walk and get your toes wet.

Located on Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1), slightly south of Newport Coast Drive, Crystal Cove State Park boasts a 3.5 mile swath of beach with two major entry points. The larger one, further south, is near the main woodland area that comprises a majority of the park. It's also close to Ruby's Shake Shack. The smaller one, within a mile of Newport Coast Drive, leads to a section of the beach that's more beautiful and tends to be less crowded. This is the one Cat and I enjoy frequenting. To get to the beach from the parking lot, you take a quaint little boardwalk through scrubland that appears deserted, save for the occasional small lizard.

Once you get down to the beach, you're greeted by a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. Now, a less wary person might decide to dive right in, particularly on a hot day. However, this panda saw Jaws for the first time at the tender age of 5 and is fully aware that the second a human being enters the ocean, he drops straight to the bottom of the food chain. That seductive blue minx is full of hungry creatures eager to sink their teeth in my soft, squishy body. Oh yeah, there's the pollution and whale pee and whatnot as well. Just not my cup of tea.

On the other hand, I do like a good stroll. With several miles of beach available, you can walk for as long or as little as you like.

You'll see lines of grizzled seagulls staring somberly out at the ocean like little Mafioso discussing the family business. The odd sandpiper or pigeon will be scattered amongst them, tolerated, but not trusted with any important affairs.

Spurs of shale and other rock jut out from the wet sand, worn smooth by the pounding of the waves.

A closer look reveals clusters of delicious mussels clinging to the sides. It may be tempting to try a taste, but remember that pollution I was talking about before. Pop one of these in your mouth and you'll be on the fast track to the emergency room.

The seagulls are far less discriminating, as the scattered shells around the rocks clearly attest.

Of course, incriminating footprints near the scene of the crime are always helpful. I wonder if the gulls put out a hit. Maybe the mollusks were trying to muscle in of their territory. *ba dum cha!*

Further on up the beach are some amazing swirls of rock, worn down to the sand over the centuries. In a few hundred more years, the mussels are going to have to find a new home.

Cat likes hunting for pretty stones in the rubble.

The ocean isn't the only part of the beach that offers attractive scenery. Explore the cliffs along the back, and you'll find several small waterfalls, like this one, where streams and other runoff finally make it to the sea. However, if the moss and tar streaks haven't already warned you, look, don't touch. Lots of bacteria live in that water. This is what runs into the ocean, which is why I choose not to swim in it.

Where the rock is more solid and exposed to the saltwater during high tide, you'll find small caves carved into the sandstone from years of battering. They don't go anywhere yet, but they'll only get larger and deeper with time. It's still not a good idea to go poking around down there.

If you're in an exploring mood, the tide pools surrounding the caves offer a variety of small sea creatures to discover, including hermit crabs and barnacles. Be careful when moving about. The rock is smooth and slippery. One wrong step and you can both break a bone and destroy a fragile colony. Life is hard enough in these pools without humans disturbing the creatures within.

Once you've gotten yourself good and crisped, it's time to mosey on down the beach to Ruby's Shake Shack. Founded in 1945 as the Crystal Cove Shake Shack, the Shake Shack provided a refreshing pit stop of weary travelers on PCH and thirsty beachgoers. Later on, it became a famous date spot amongst Orange County locals. In the late 1980s, the Shake Shack was saved from demolition by local petition, only to have its lease expire. The state put the Shake Shack's concession contract up for bid. It eventually won by Arden Flamson, who opened up a Ruby's franchise at the site in May of 2006. The new concession has been named Ruby's Shake Shack in an attempt to evoke the nostalgia of the old eatery. However, according to locals and longtime fans, Ruby's Shake Shack is a pale shadow of its predecessor.

Feeling nostalgic for family trips to the beach, I ordered a simple Vanilla Ice Cream Cone. Cold and sweet, it tasted like the familiar gas station soft serves by father would buy me one our way home from Santa Cruz.

Cat did me one better by getting a Hot Fudge Sundae. The molten chocolate helped her ice cream melt faster and formed a rich sludge, which she scooped up contentedly with her spoon.

The happiest diner by far was a cheeky, fat squirrel living in the bushes right next to the outdoor tables. This little fellow knew no shame, zipping about my legs and standing up whenever I lowered one of my hands to see if I had anything for him. There were a number of chunky birds in the bushes as well, from which I surmised that a thriving ecosystem had sprung up around the Shake Shack, fueled by garbage and scraps. There were some locals, at least, who didn't mind the changeover.

Ruby's Shake Shack - It's really just a convenient place to get something cold after an afternoon at the beach. There's nothing special about it now.

4/28/2007

(What the @#$% happened to Chubbypanda? I'll tell ya what happened. Work came and kicked the crap out of him. Then it took his wallet and kicked him in the bad-touchy place while he was down. I'm a little sore, but I'm back.)

I've always been very fond of prime rib roasts. There's something primal and unvarnished about a large slab of meat that's simply salted and baked until tender. It speaks to the savage part of me that likes my steaks rare and my fish raw.

The problem with prime rib roasts tends to be the cost. Those sexy hunks of beefcake don't come small or cheap. Unless you feed a family of twenty every night, prime rib roasts are impractical to make at home. On the other hand, one twelve-ounce serving can run you as much as $30 in a restaurant

This Garlic Peppercorn Roast Beef recipe is my way of getting that great, prime rib taste by using a similar preparation on a cheaper cut of meat. I like using organic, free-range, grass-fed beef for its superb flavor and texture. The shoulder clod roast is my cut of choice because it's both inexpensive and works very well with high-heat roasting techniques.

Melt the butter in the roasting pan over medium heat. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula to dislodge any caramelized bits sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Once the butter stops foaming, stir in the flour. The roux will be pasty at first, become very fluid, and then thicken up again slightly. Cook the flour until it turns a rich, golden color.

Slowly stir in the cold beef stock and pan drippings to fully incorporate them into the roux. Allow the mixture to come to a boil. The gravy won't fully thicken until the flour cooks for a while, so drop the heat to medium low and let simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. I usually don't need to add any, given the amount of salt and pepper already present from the pan drippings.

Serves 2-4.

Recipe for Baked Potatoes

Gear:

1 fork

Ingredients (Baked Potatoes):

2-3 medium Russet potatoes (one for each person)

Prep work (Baked Potatoes):

Scrub the potatoes under cold water. Pat dry and dock with the fork. Try to put at least four sets of holes on each side, evenly spaced.

Instructions (Baked Potatoes):

Put the potatoes in the oven at the same time you put in the roast. They can go directly on the rack. Make sure there's at least two inches of space between each one. The potatoes will be ready when the roast is done. Let the potatoes rest for 15-30 minutes as well, then cut a slit lengthwise along the top and push in at either end with your fingers. This will open up the potato and give them a nice look when serving.

Serves 2-3.

Since both the Garlic Peppercorn Roast Beef and the gravy are strongly flavored, I like to enjoy this meal with the baked potato and a simple, undressed green salad.

One of the Spring traditions at the University of California, Irvine, is the Wayzgoose Medieval Faire. An integral part of the Celebrate UCI! festivities, the Wayzgoose Medieval Faire serves to highlight the school's cultural and social diversity, enhance the bonds between the university and the city of Irvine, and attract potential new students. UC Irvine cleverly schedules the Wayzgoose to coincide with high school Spring Breaks, thus providing prospective Freshman with an appealing view of the school as they tour the facilities with their parents.

As UCI alumni, Cat and I have attended the Wayzgoose Medieval Faire every year for the past nine years. It's a convenient bit of lighthearted fun and a chance to stretch our legs around the ol' alma mater. I have to admit, the fair food produced by the students is another reason for my devotion to this celebration.

Every Wayzgoose has a silly theme to tie the whole thing together. This year's theme was Narnia. The students did a pretty good job decorating the courtyard between the Library and the Commons.

There was even a plastic lamppost.

"Hello, I'm Panda Tumnus. Welcome to Narnia."

In keeping with the medieval theme, one of the booths closest to the entrance is the weaponry demonstration staffed by the Society for Creative Anachronism, which is a group of people who like to dress up in armor, and other period garb, and play knights. Some of these guys actually know what they're doing. Most of them don't. Still, the ones I've met tend to be an intelligent, fun-loving group of people. Their concept of fun just includes a lot of "thees", "thous", and belting each other over the head with blunt instruments. I can get behind that.

Of course, you take that, add a visiting Ninjafuzz, a sick Cat doped up on cold meds, and a beer garden with a poorly worded sign, and you have a recipe for silly mayhem. I didn't know ninjas could also be Siths. Use the Force, Cat!

The overall food quality at Wayzgoose can be a hit or miss proposition, as the students running the booths change every few years. However, since the majority of the fare is homemade, it tends to be above average overall, particularly in regards to ethnic eats. The best part is the variety. There's always a lot of food at really cheap prices.

How about some homey pigs in a blanket, made using instant biscuit dough from a tin? Mmm... Just like mom used to make them. Seriously, I've missed these.

These are big grills all over the place, roasting up trenchers of tasty meats and sending fragrant smoke wafting everywhere. Don't these guys look happy? I know I was.

Spicy hot links for Cat and Ninjafuzz...

... and this savory, perfectly caramelized piece of chicken for me.

The whole event is hosted in Aldrich Park, smack dab in the center of the UC Irvine campus. When you're ready to sit down and eat, you just set up camp where you're less likely to get stepped on.

Even then, you're not safe from cute girls carrying cartons of cotton candy, particularly if your fiancée has gotten much too good at giving you the sad puppy eyes. Sad kitty eyes in her case.

Ninjafuzz spotted some tasty looking egg rolls being fried up fresh. Never one to pass up the tubular tasties, he stealthily ninja-ed his way over and scored some.

As usual, this led to the obligatory "big bite" or "money" shot. I'm really not sure this is safe for work.

I went for a frosty horchata at another booth, cause the panda, he does lovies the rice.

Coming down a bit from her sugar high, Cat went for some cinnamon coated, fried goodness in churro form.

Wayzgoose provides a number of fun diversions to work off some of those calories, including pony rides, video games, gladiator-like apparatus, a bounce house, and a petting zoo. There are also a number of student-run carnival games, like this one.

I normally don't approve of cruelty to pandas, but I made an exception for the cute Taiwanese girls staffing the Republic of China Student Association. I'll take a pin to the tail for the cause.

The large stage hosts a variety of live performances, from this indie rock band to dancers, martial arts demos, and taiko drummers. The band was enthusiastic, if nothing else. Watch Ninjafuzz rock out in the video.

You can also get educated on a number of worthwhile causes. This charming fellow's dance for the children earned Unicef a few dollars from Cat and a spot in this article. Support Unicef. It's a great organization.

The biggest event at Wayzgoose is the annual Classic Car Competition, which brings out dozens of gorgeous vehicles from all around Southern California.

I love working my way through the display. It's like walking through the evolution of the American automobile industry.

There are a lot of unique vehicles. Isn't this little guy the cutest car you've ever seen?

Scary demon car! Stay away!

No trip to Wayzgoose is complete for Cat and I without a stop at the Campuswide Honors Program Cookie Booth. Cat and I were both in the UCI CHP when we were students. We feel obligated to support them. It certainly doesn't have anything to do with their delicious cookies. Mmm... Tastes like academic excellence...

Wayzgoose Medieval Faire - For a bite of student life. Go support UC Irvine and have fun sampling all the good eats.